Combined closure and sealing member



Jan. 3, 1967 G. l.. ABRAMS 3,295y7m COMBINED CLOSURE AND SEALING MEMBER Filed March l2, 1964 a Flc. l.

K/ FIG 4. g 4 w /Z /ff 2' J9 )d 2g la /z if Z/ M M 2 d f rf i Z2 72 XB //2 FK). 2.

Fl 5 INVENTOR.

TTGRNEYS United States Patent O 3,295,711 COMBINED CLOSURE AND SEALING MEMBER Gilbert L. Abrams, Valley Cottage, NJK., assigner to Guild Mulders, Inc., Elmsford, NX., a corporation of New York i Filed Mar. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 351,481 7 Claims. (Cl. 22d-24.5)

The present invention relates generally to closures and their method of manufacture, and in particular to a cmbined closure and sealing member for `a receptacle of the type including a dispensing opening bounded by a rim and to a method for the manufacture of such member.

A typical receptacle or container may be of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length or shaped to provide a neck, includes a rim or top neck wall which bounds a dispensing or neck opening. A dispensing or neck bore communicates with such neck opening and is defined by the corresponding inner neck wall thereof. The container usually incorporates threads, a seat or a projection on the outer neck 4wall for engagement with corresponding hold-down means on a cap or closure. Many and varied types of caps or closures are known and are available for cl-osing and sealing the dispensing or neck opening, with provision for releasable engagement of such cap or closure with the container or receptacle. However, there is ever present the need for improvement in such caps or closures, particularly with respect to the facility for manufacture on a mass production basis at relatively low unit cost and the ability to provide an effective seal with the container or receptacle. Although many such cap or closure constructions appear to be feasible at first consideration, careful analysis and consideration of the related molding techniques often reveals that the same cannot be produced on a practical basis at reasonable cost and without resort to relatively complicated molds and manufacturing methods.

Broadly, it is Van object of the present invention to provide a combined closure and sealing member which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is Within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a molded and unitary combined closure and sealing member and method for its manufacture which is particularly suited to the effective closing and sealing of a wide variety of receptacles and containers, may be manufactured by substantially conventional mold- `ing techniques, and is capable of being produced on a mass production basis at comparatively low cost.

In accordance with article aspects of the present invention, there is provided a -combined closure and sealing member for use with a receptacle of the type having internal and external walls defining a dispensing bore terminating in a dispensing opening. closure and sealing member comprises a depending skirt which is dimensioned to fit about the external wall, a lclosure top dimensioned to fit within the bore continguous to and below the dispensing opening, and a resilient, reentrant and deformable sealing sleeve which depends from the skirt and is connected to the closure top. The sealing sleeve extends in confronting relation to the dispensing bore and has an inwardly directed bend connected to the closure top, with the closure top being `dimensioned in relation to the `dispensing bore such that the engagement of the closure member with the receptacle deforms the closure top and imparts a radially and out- The combined ICC wardly directed force to the sealing sleeve urging the same into sealing contact with the dispensing bore.

In accordance with method aspects of the present in-` vention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a closure for a container of the type having a dispensing opening bounded by a rim which comprises the steps of forming a one-piece deformable molding including an intermediate angular flange having outer and inner edges and of a radial extent such as to overlie the rim. The molding further includes a substantially cylindrical skirt depending from the outer edge of the flange which is dimensioned to fit about the container, a substantially cylindrical sealing member projecting from the inner edge of the flange in the direction opopsite to the skirt and dimensioned to be received within the skirt, and a closure top bridging the sealing member at the end remote from the ange and dimensioned to be received within the skirt inwardly of the sealing member. The next step involves the axial displacement of the closure top relative to the flange and the skirt such that the closure top lies within the skirt below the inner edge of the flange and the sealing member is turned approximately about the inner edge of the flange serving as a fulcrum and depends into the skirt in confronting relation thereto. When so disposed, the sealing member joins the closure top at a bend and is biased outwardly toward the skirt by the closure top. As will be appre-ciated as the description proceeds, it is not possible to mold the combined closure and sealing member in this final arrangement and configuration. However, by the expedient of molding the same as an intermediate product, followed by the deformation thereof and axial displacement of the closure top relative to the skirt, it is possible to attain the desired ultimate configuration for the closure member.

The above brief description as well Ias further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several presently preferred, but nonetireless illustrative embodiments in` accordance with the present invention and the method of their manufacture, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FiG. 1 is a sectional view of a combined closure and sealing member during an intermediate stage of its manufacture after molding and prior to the final forming step, the member being shown in a typical jig or fixture suitable for the final forming thereof;

FIG. 2 is la sectional view similar to FIG. l showing the combined closure and sealing member in its iinal form, with the jig or fixture in its corresponding position;

FlG. 3 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of the combined closure and sealing member manufactured in accordance with the progressive steps shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the combined closure and sealing member as shown mounted on a typical container or receptacle; and,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a modified closure embodying further features of the present invention shown on a corresponding receptacle or container.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, preliminary reference will be made to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a description of a combined closure and sealing member embodying features of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 1i) which is illustrated as being of the type suitable for engagement by a snap fit with a receptacle or container 12. In this illustrative embodiment, only a portion of the receptacle or container 12 is illustrated, it being understood that such receptacle or container may take a variety of shapes and forms. Accordingly, the reference herein to a neck is not intended to imply that the receptacle or container 12 must have a reduced cross section, but rather is intended to generically describe the diverse types of containers for a variety of preparations including foodstuffs, cosmetics, medications and the like. The container or receptacle 12 has an internal or inner neck wall 14 which defines or bounds a dispensing bore terminating at its upper end in a dispensing or neck opening 14a. Additionally, the receptacle or container includes an external or outer neck wall 16 which is formed contiguous to and below the dispensing opening 14a with an annular seat 16a adapted to receive a fitment or inwardly directed projection on the cap with a snap interfit, as will be subsequently described. The dispensing or neck opening 14a is bounded by a neck top wall or rim 18 which includes a chamfered section 18a. It is again to be emphasized that the details of the receptacle or container 12 are subject to a latitude of modification, change and substitution and it is within the contemplation of the invention that the cap or closure 10 be used with receptacles of various constructions. The combined closure and sealing member 10 is seen to include a substantially cylindrical depending neclcengaging wall or skirt 20 which is substantially cylindrical and is dimensioned to lit about the external or outer neck Wall 16 contiguous to the neck or dispensing opening 14a. Means are provided on the neck-engaging wall or skirt 20 for engagement with the external wall 16 for releasably securing the member 10 to the receptacle or container 12. In this illustrative embodiment, an inwardly directed projection or fitment 22 is formed on the neck-engaging Wall or skirt 20 in position to be received with a snap action within the seat 16a on the wall 16. Integral with the neck-engaging wall or skirt 20 is an inwardly directed suspension ange 24 which is of a radial extent to overlie the rim or neck top wall 18, with the outer edge of the suspension flange 24 integrally joining the adjacent upper end of the neck-engaging wall Ztl and the inner edge lying at a radial location corresponding substantially to the diameter of the dispensing bore defined by the internal wall 14. Disposed below the suspension flange 24 and within the neck-engaging wall or skirt 20 is a closure top 26 which is of domed configuration and is arranged generally below the plane of the suspension ange 24. Extending between the inner edge of the suspension flange 24 and the closure top 26 is a sealing element 0r sleeve 28 of substantially I-shaped cross section which extends in space confronting relation to the neck-engaging wall or skirt 20. The sealing element or sleeve 28 is of a reduced cross section as compared to the cross section of the neck-engaging wall 20 and the closure top 26. The sealing element 28 joins the suspension ange 24 at an annular junction or neck 30 which is of reduced cross section and joins the periphery of the closure top 26 at a bend or doubled-back annular junction 32. During its manufacture, the closure top 26 is radially compressed due to its sizing in relation to the dispensing bore of the receptacle 12 and in relation to the diameter of the skirt or neck-engaging wall 2t) such that radially and outwardly directed forces are imparted to the sealing member 28 tending to urge the same into intimate and sealing contact with the internal or inner neck wall 14 of the receptacle 12.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a description of the method for manufacturing the combined closure and sealing member 10. Initially a onepiece deformable molding M of any appropriate resilient plastic is formed which includes the parts corresponding to those described in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4. 75

Accordingly, these parts will be identified by the same reference numerals, although it is to be noted that the physical disposition of the parts is different in FIG. l and are selected in relation to each other to be capable of being molded in accordance with generally conventional molding techniques. The one-piece deformable molding M is seen to include the intermediate annular suspension fiange 24 which is of a radial extent such as to overlie the rim or neck top wall 18 of the closure (see FIG. 4). The substantially cylindrical skirt 20 depends from the outer edge of the suspension flange 24 and is dirnensioned to fit about the receptacle or container. In this embodiment, the skirt 20 is formed with the inwardly directed projection 22 to achieve the snap interfit with the receptacle 12. The substantially cylindrical sealing member 28 projects from the inner edge of the suspension flange 24 in a direction opposite to the skirt 20 and is dirnensioned to be received within the skirt. The lower end of the cylindrical sealing member or sleeve 28 adjoins the inner edge of the suspension fiange 24 at the reduced cross section neck 30. The upper edge of the sealing member of sleeve 28 is bridged by the integral closure top 30 which is dirnensioned to be received within the skirt 20 and within the neck bore, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 3 and 4. The neck 30 at the inner edge of the flange forms a fulcrum about which the. sealing member 28 may be turned through into confronting relation with the skirt. As previously indicated, the sealing member 28 is of a reduced cross section such that the same may be formed into the J-shaped configuration shown in FIG. 3 upon axial displacement of the closure top 30 to within the confines of the skirt 20. In this illustrative embodiment, the sealing member is of uniform cylindrical cross section from end to end and has its longitudinal axis extending at right angles to the suspension fiange 24. However, it is within the contemplation of the invention to configurate the sealing member 28 of a conical cross section which progressively decreases in diameter from the neck 30 upwardly toward the closure top 26 in which eventuality there will be a decrease `of the pressure exerted by the sealing member 28 against the corresponding Walls of the receptacle or container. Further the sealing member 28 may be of progressively increasing conical cross section from the neck 30 towards the closure top 26 in which eventuality an increased pressure will be exerted as compared to the illustrative showing. However, from a practical standpoint, the straight and substantially cylindrical sealing member 28 is preferred since it facilitates ease of molding without necessity of taking into account the provision of undercuts in the molded piece.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the onepiece deformable molding M is inserted into a jig or fixture F which is seen to include a base plate or platen B, a retaining sleeve S of configuration which conforms generally to the outline of the molding M, and a plunger P of a diameter corresponding to that of the top closure 26. When the plunger P is depressed through its operative stroke, as may be appreciated by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, the thin-wall sealing member 28 moves inwardly and pivots about the reduced annular neck 30 to assume the I-shape configuration illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 inclusive upon removal of the completed closure 10 from within the fixture F. The closure top or top wall 26 assumes a somewhat domed configuration since the diameter thereof is selected in relation to the diameter of the skirt 20 to force or bias the sealing member 30 outwardly towards the skirt 20. In fact, as may be appreciated by progressively comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, the annular space 34 intermediate lthe sealing member 28 and the skirt 20 of a somewhat reduced cross section as compared to the -corresponding cross section of the receptacle or container 14 (see FIG. 4) such that upon the application of the closure 10 to the receptacle or container 12, there is a tendency for the outwardly directed bow in the sealing member Z8 to be somewhat straightened and the closure top 26 to be somewhat more domed thereby effecting a relatively large area seal along the circumference of the receptacle contiguous to the dispensing opening 14a.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a further embodiment of the present invention which is designated as part of a 100 series since -corresponding parts are substantially identical to that illustrated in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive. However, in this embodiment, the receptacle container 112 is provided with external threads 116e on the external wall 116e thereof, with the depending skirt 120 being likewise provided with corresponding threads 122 arranged to engage the threads 116e on the receptacle 112. Since except for this modification, the construction shown in FIG. 5 is identical to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 further description will be dispensed with in the interest of brevity.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there I has been provided a relatively simple moldable plastic piece which may be shaped to provide an exceptionally effective closure and sealing arrangement adaptable for use on a wide variety of bottles, receptacles, containers and the like. A relatively large area seal is afforded between the closure and the corresponding receptacle which seal can be established to be substantially vacuum tight depending upon the tolerances adopted in the manufacture of both the receptacle and the closure. The outwardly bowed sealing member, which is integral with the top and skirt of the closure, is formed from an elemental molding which can be produced by conventional molding techniques, yet is ultimately of such configuration that the same could not be fabricated using normal molds and a unitary or one-piece construction. However, by the novel manipulated steps employed herein, it is possible to achieve both the desirable sealing action and yet employ substantially conventional techniques for preparing the intermediate molding.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use 0f other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A combined Closure and sealing member for a receptacle including a top neck wall bounding a neck opening and inner and outer neck walls extending therefrom comprising a substantially cylindrical depending neck-engaging wall dimensioned to tit about said outer neck wall, means on said neck-engaging wall and adapted to engage said outer neck wall for releasably securing said member to said neck of said receptacle, an inwardly directed suspension flange formed integrally with said neck-engaging wall and adapted to overlie said top neck wall, a centrally disposed closure top arranged below said suspension iiange and within said neck, and an inwardly directed sealing element of substantially I-shaped cross section integral with said suspension iiange and said closure top and extending within said neck in confronting relation to said inner neck wall, said sealing element being biased radially outwardly by said closure top, said sealing element and said neck-engaging wall defining therebetween an annular space, at least a portion of said annular space being of lesser radial extent than the corresponding spacing between said inner and outer neck walls such that the engagement of said closure and sealing member with said receptacle will establish a sealing contact between 4 said sealing element and said inner neck wall.

2. A combined closure and sealing member according to claim 1 wherein the means on said neck-engaging wall includes an inwardly projecting bead adapted to make a snap t with said receptacle.

3. A combined closure and sealing member according to claim 1 wherein the means on said neck-engaging wall includes threads adapted to threadly engage said receptac e.

4. The combination with a receptacle having internal and external walls defining a dispensing bore terminating in a dispensing opening of a closure member for said receptacle comprising a depending skirt dimensioned to fit about said external wall, a closure top dimensioned to tit within said bore contiguous to and below said dispensing opening and a reentrant and deformable sealing sleeve depending from said skirt and connected to said closure top, said sealing sleeve extending in confronting relation to said dispensing bore and having an inwardly directed bend connected to said closure top, said sealing sleeve and skirt defining an annular space therebetween, at least a portion of said annular space being of a lesser radial extent than corresponding spacing between the internal and external walls of said receptacle, said closure top being dimensioned in relation to said dispensing bore such that the engagement of said closure member with said receptacle deforrns said closure top and imparts a radially and outwardly directed force to said sealing sleeve urging the same into sealing contact with said dispensing bore.

5. The combination with a receptacle having internal and external walls defining a dispensing bore terminating in a dispensing opening of a closure member for said receptacle fabricated of a unitary plastic molding and comprising a depending cylindrical skirt dimensioned to fit about said external wall, a `closure top dimensioned to fit within said bore contiguous to and below said dispensing opening, -a resilient reentrant and deformable sealing sleeve depending from said skirt and connected to said closure top, said sealing sleeve extending in confronting relation to said dispensing bore and having an inwardly directed bend at its lower end connected to said closure top, said sealing sleeve and skirt defining an annular space therebetween, at least a portion of said annular space being of a lesser radial extent than corresponding spacing between the internal and external walls of said receptacle, said closure top being dimensioned in relation to said dispensing bore such that the engagement of said closure member with said receptacle deforms said closure top and imparts a radially and outwardly directed force to said sealing sleeve urging the same into contact with said dispensing bore, and inwardly-directed means on said skirt releasably engaging said receptacle for securing said closure member to said receptacle in closing relation thereto.

6. A method of manufacturing a closure for a container having a dispensing opening bounded by a rim -comprising the steps of forming a one-piece deformable molding including an intermediate annular iiange having outer and inner edges and of a radial extent such as to overlie said rim, a skirt depending from the outer edge of said flange and dimensioned to tit about said container, a sealing member projecting from the inner edge -of said flange in a direction opposite to said skirt and dimensioned to be received within said skirt, and a closure top bridging said sealing member at the end remote from said flange and dimensioned to be received within said skirt; and axially displacing said closure top and said flange relative to each other such that said closure top lies within said skirt and said sealing member is turned about said inner edge as a fulcrum and depends into said skirt in confronting relation thereto.

7. A method of manufacturing a closure for a container having a dispensing opening bounded by a rim comprising the steps of forming a one-piece deformable molding including an intermediate annular flange having outer and inner edges and of a radial extent such as to overlie said rim, a substantially cylindrical skirt depending from the outer edge of said iiange and dimensioned to iit about said container, a substantially cylindrical sealing member projecting from the inner edge of said flange in a direction opposite to said skirt and dimensioned to be received Within said skirt, and a closuretop bridgingsaid sealing member at the end remote from said flange and dimensioned to be received Within said skirt inwardly of said sealing member; and axially displacing said closure top relative to said flange and said skirt such that said closure top lies within said skirt below said inner edge of said ange and said sealing member is turned through approximately 180 about said inner edge as a fulcrum and depends into said lskirt in confronting relation thereand being biased outwardly toward said skirt by said closure top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

to, said sealing member joining said closure top at a bend 10 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

I. B. MARBERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED CLOSURE AND SEALING MEMBER FOR A RECEPTACLE INCLUDING A TOP NECK WALL BOUNDING A NECK OPENING AND INNER AND OUTER NECK WALLS EXTENDING THEREFROM COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL DEPENDING NECK-ENGAGING WALL DIMENSIONED TO FIT ABOUT SAID OUTER NECK WALL, MEANS ON SAID NECK-ENGAGING WALL AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID OUTER NECK WALL FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID MEMBER TO SAID NECK OF SAID RECEPTACLE, AN INWARDLY DIRECTED SUSPENSION FLANGE FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID NEXK-ENGAGING WALL AND ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID TOP NECK WALL, A CENTRALLY DISPOSED CLOSURE TOP ARRANGED BELOW SAID SUSPENSION FLANGE AND WITHIN SAID NECK, AND AN INWARDLY DIRECTED SEALING ELEMENT OF SUBSTANTIALLY J-SHAPED CROSS SECTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID SUSPENSION FFLANGE AND SAID CLOSURE TOP AND EXTENDING WITHIN SAID NECK IN CONFRONTING RELATION TO SAID INNER NECK WALL, SAID SEALING ELEMENT BEING BIASED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY BY SAID CLOSURE TOP, SAID SEALING ELEMENT AND SAID NECK-ENGAGING WALL DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN ANNULAR SPACE, AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID ANNULAR SPACE BEING OF LESSER RADIAL EXTENT THAN THE CORRESPONDING SPACING BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER NECK WALLS SUCH THAT THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CLOSURE AND SEALING MEMBER WITH SAID RECEPTACLE WILL ESTABLISH A SEALING CONTACT BETWEEN SAID SEALING ELEMENT AND SAID INNER NECK WALL. 